Tips for Effective Practice
Wednesday 29th January 2025, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
As a vocalist dedicated to your craft, you spend valuable time practicing to improve. You want to use your practice time wisely, and this session can help you accomplish your goals! I will describe the current state of research regarding practice strategies and provide practical applications for vocalists.
For example, your thought patterns impact your motivation to practice and the choices you make while practicing. I will describe examples of these thought patterns and self-regulatory strategies to change your mindset. We will discuss external influences on practice habits and strategies for ameliorating negative influences. I will describe differences in the practice habits of novice and expert musicians so that you can model your own practice sessions on what experts do.
One such difference between experts and novices is the use of practice strategies. We will discuss types of practice strategies and which strategies can be used to address specific musical problems. Throughout the workshop, I will draw connections to specific issues that vocalists face and how to address during practice sessions. For those who teach in either private or group settings, I will provide strategies for teaching one’s students to practice effectively. I will also set aside time for questions regarding specific issues.
🏷️ Price £30 (UK VAT inclusive)
🎥 Recording automatically sent to all who book (even if you cannot attend live)
▶️ Rewatch as many times as you like
📜 Certificate of attendance available
Nancy Summitt
Nancy Summitt taught K-12 music for 7 years prior to obtaining her Ph.D from the University of Memphis, and has held past professorships at the University of Tennessee at Martin and DePauw University.
Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.
Learn MoreSorry, this is an archived short course...
We have plenty of upcoming short courses coming soon. See details of some of them below or look at the full list of short courses.
Thursday 11th December 2025
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
(London Time)
Picking Up Good Vibrations: Pedagogical and Clinical Voice Analysis!
Dr Calvin Baker
Voice teachers and clinicians strongly rely on auditory perceptual modes of voice evaluation. These are considered the gold standard for assessing voice quality and training effects (e.g., a singer’s progress from lesson to lesson or across voice therapy). Join Dr Calvin Baker as he explores techniques for instrumentally analysing the singing voice. Specific considerations for the challenges of obtaining reliable, robust, and comparable data will be presented, and practical recommendations for recording and analysing the singing voice in pedagogical and clinical contexts will be made.
Thursday 11th December 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
The Pedagogy of Vibrato: Integrating Science and Studio Practice
Dr Justin John Moniz
Vibrato is more than just a shimmer in the sound—it’s one of the voice’s most powerful tools for artistry and expression. In this dynamic course, Justin John Moniz—Associate Director of Vocal Performance and Coordinator of Vocal Pedagogy at NYU Steinhardt, and Associate Editor of the Journal of Singing—pulls back the curtain on vibrato, blending history, science, and studio know-how into an engaging exploration for singers and teachers alike.
Tuesday 16th December 2025
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
(London Time)
Inspired Sound: Unlocking the Science of Choral Acoustics
Professor Helena Daffern
In this session, Professor Helena Daffern will explore the fascinating science behind choral sound, offering choir singers and directors valuable insights into achieving a cohesive and expressive ensemble, no matter what their standard. The concept of choral blend will be examined —what it is, how it can be cultivated, and the roles of intonation and vibrato will be analysed. The decisions that have to be made around intonation when tuning thirds or dealing with modulations over the course of an a cappella piece will be explained in the context of existing research and different singing styles such as barbershop singing and solo voice ensembles.